Work-holding clamp



Dec. 17, 1929. c. 1.. GUSTAFSON ,7 3

. WORK HOLDING CLAMP Filed Nov. so. 1928 (4P1 4. az/rgrsa/v wag/V7 477'P/V'J Patented Dec. 17, 1929 STTES ETE PAT OFFEQF;

CARL I. GUSTAFSON, OF CHICAGO, TLLIEOTS WORK-HOLDING CLAMP Thisinvention relates to improvements in a carpenters clamp or the like andhas for one of its principal objects the provision of means for quicklyand conveniently adjusting the jaws of the clamp for any desired span.

in the usual clamp or vise the only means for moving the jaws of thesame when a diflerent span is desired is by the use of the clamp screw.Obviously this is a slow tedious process when a great variation in spanis desired.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide means inconjunction with is a device of the class mentioned, for disengaging theclamp screw from the threads contained in the fixed jaw, therebypermitting the screw to be slid through the fixed jaw,

and in turn drawing the movable jaw toward 2% or away from the fixedjaw. When the aproximate span is obtained the screw can be readilypositioned operatively with respect to the fixed threads and the devicemay then be used in the ordinary manner.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and followingspecification.

w The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the clamp. Figure 2 isa detail sectional view, illuscrating in particular the screw engagingand disengaging mechanism.

Figure 3 is a detail plan'sectional view showing the screw operativelyassociated with the segmental thread.

'40- Figure 4 is a detail sectional View of the screw end housing.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

As shown .in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a screw of the usual squarethread type ordinarily used for translation purposes. One end of thescrew is provided with a rigidly attached handle member 12. The

' other end of the screw is positioned loosely in an opening 14 in amovable clamp jaw 16. As shown best in detail section in Figure 4, theend of the member 10 has mounted thereon a cap 18, the mountingcomprising a rivet 20 or the like positioned transversely through thescrew 10 and cap 18. A housing 22 is mounted upon the member 16 andcompletely encloses the end of the screw 10 and the cap 18, an oil hole24 being provided in the same for lubricating purposes.

The movable jaw 16 is adapted to slide upon a leg 26 which in turn isrigidily connected to a fixed jaw 29. To facilitate the sliding of themember 16 upon the leg 26 and decrease wear at the sliding surfaces, thetwo operative edges of the leg 26 are provided with metal facings 28attached to the leg by means of countersunk screws or the like 30. Aguide 32 also provided with a metal face 3% is rigidly attached to thejaw 7 16 and operates at the rear edge of the leg 26' thus preventingthe jaw 16 from assuming other than a right-angle position on the leg26.

The screw 10 is also positioned through an opening 36 in the fixed aw28. The opening 36 is tapered inwardly and adapted to be insertedtherein is a member 38 which flanged at one end for readily mounting thesame on the edge of the jaw 28. One portion of the inner surface of themember 38 con prises a semi-cylindrical threaded element 40. It isapparent that by means of the taper construction of the member 38 thescrew 10 can be engaged and disengaged by moving the same into and outof operation with the thread segment 40. Mounted loosely upon the screw10 is a sleeve or collar 42 having integrally attached to one endthereof a notched hand-wheel 44E. Rigidly attached to one face of thesaid hand-wheel and extending outwardly therefrom is a pin 46. As shownbest in Figure 2, the sleeve 42 when placed in operative position in theopening 36 places the screw 10 in engagement with 9 the threaded segment40, thus adapting the clamp to slow motion clamping action. Ob Viouslywhen the sleeve is removed from the opening the screw is freed from thethreads and the screw may be slidably moved as desired, thus permittinga rapid change of span of the jaws 16 and 28.

It is apparent that herein is provided a device which is convenient,extremely useful and rugged and a saving of both time and labor can beeliiected by its use.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a carpenters clamp, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other,a screw operatively associated with each jaw and means for rendering thescrew inoperative as such with respect to one of the jaws, meansincluding a semi-cylindrical internally threaded member, one of the jawsbeing provided with a tapered opening into which the said member isadapted to be housed, the screw being adapted to be inserted in the saidopening and means for removably positioning the screw relative to thethreaded semicylindrical member.

2. In a carpenters clamp, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other,a screw op eratively associated with eacri jaw and means for renderingthe screw inoperative as such with respect to one of the jaws, saidmeans including a semi-cylindrical internally threaded member, one ofthe aws being provided with a tapered opening into which the said memberis adapted to be housed, the screw being adapted to be inserted in thesaid opening and means for removably positioning the screw relative tothe threaded semi-cylind "ical member, said means comprising a collarslidably mounted on the screw, and adapted to be inserted in the openingin the said jaw and means on the collar for holding the screw inoperative position with respect to the segmental threads.

3. in a carpenters clamp, a pair of jaws movable relative to each other,a screw operatively associated with each jaw and means for rendering thescrew inoperative as such with respect to one of the jaws, said meansincluding a semi-cylindrical internally threaded member, one of the jawsbeing provided with a tapered opening into which the said member isadapted to be housed, the screw being adapted to be inserted in the saidopening and means for removably positioning the screw relative to thethreaded semi-cylindrical member, said means comprising a collarslidably mounted on the screw, and adapted to be inserted in the openingin the said jaw and means on the collar for holding the screw inoperative position with respect to the segmental threads, said meansincluding an annular member rigidly mounted on the collar, a pin rigidlymounted on the annular member, the said pin being adapted to cooperatewith the tapered side of the opening.

4. A carpenters clamp, including in combination, a pair of jaws, onefixed and one slidable, a screw passing through openings provided ineach jaw, the screw being loosely positioned in the opening in themovable jaw and optionally threadedly or slidably positioned in theopening in the fixed jaw, and means upon the movable for res riotingslidable motion in one direction of the screw relative thereto, andmeans upon the screw for preventing slidable motion in the otherdirection, of the screw relative to the jaw, said first means comprisinga housing completely enclosing the end of the screw and mounted rigidlyupon the jaw, the second means including a cap rigidly connected to theend of the screw adjacent the said jaw.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

CARL GUSTAFSON.

